CENTERVILLE — May 15th is the day restaurants are allowed to offer outdoor dining. Not every restaurant is choosing to reopen on this date.
News Center 7′s Kayla Courvell spoke with Archer’s in Centerville on why they are choosing to wait.
“I can’t imagine some of the struggles restaurants will hit that are opening this weekend on some of their busiest days,” said owner Dan Apolito.
He made the decision to not open his restaurants this friday.
“We wanted to make sure we were ready, opening a restaurant, even though we’ve been in business for 10 years isn’t as easy as flipping on a switch,” explained Apolito.
Apolito received the paycheck protection program and just reopened for carryout this week.
“After we received the funds from the PPP, that gave us enough confirdence to bring people back and pay them and that payroll would be reimbursed,” said Apolito.
The curbside pick up only accounts for 30 to 40 percent of total revenue.
All 172 employees were offered their jobs back, but not all of them were comfortable returning to work.
“We have three who say they would prefer not to come back because they live with elderly parents, but their jobs will be here when they decide to come back,” said Apolito.
Even though Archers Tavern has the space for outdoor seating, Apolito said they won’t rush reopening.
“We’ll really rely on guests and how they feel, we’re set up to place people six feet apart, but its really going to be about guests and how they feel," said Apolito.
Apolito said his restaurants will reopen for dine in on Tuesday, May 26th.